#Buddy’s Mental Anguish

[ashton-the-draconid]

That moment when Punko won’t give the fandom Buddy having a mental breakdown so you take it upon yourself to write it.

This man’s existence will be suffering in my hands

[aioliravioli-69]

Thank you so much @tmkalp for creating that wild west au 🙏 and for being ok with me making my own :D

So here, have Chase being hog-tied to a train track!

First things first(because you KNOW I gotta add a description to every image lol)

I hate that goddamn train. I'm gonna admit I traced the hell out of it and it took me hours??? It came out so ugly brooo

It's WAYY too small but not a single cell in my body is motivated to redraw it

Aight, train rant over

Buddy is supposed to be a western prostitute(the pants were supposed to be non-transparent fading into a transparent tone) because I couldn't think of any other villainess role in a western movie.

Not that I was more creative with Chase 💀

I literally just looked up 'western film female protagonist' and stole ideas off of there

Also yes, Chase is in extreme back pain

Buddy: Well hello there

Chase: *muffled insults*

[onthewaytosomewhere]

STREETFIGHTER BUCK for Buddie fic!!!!!!!!!!!!! (I didn't even look at your prompts mel, ngl, you know this is coming though so I don't feel bad)

it's rather appropriate that this ends up being done and posted on the friday after you gave me this

this thing kicked my arse - hopefully it's angsty enough for ya luv

this one is a long one so go read it on ao3 plz

Buck is at a bar once again. He can’t stand to be home—can’t stand to be anywhere alone with his thoughts. He just needs to get away from everything, so he has found a bar within walking distance of his apartment, which he’s never been in—a place no one else will find him. He needs some time to process everything, all the anger he feels. He just needs to get drunk so he stops having nightmares. He overhears some people sitting near him at the bar talking about a gym nearby with an area for boxing. It starts as a momentary thought, but by the end of the night, he has the name of the gym and the name of someone to talk to when he goes. Someone who will help him get started on his boxing journey—Art.

It's not long before the gym replaces the bar; he’s there most nights after a shift that he’s not with Eddie or Christopher, and on days when he’s off, he spends hours there. He beats on bags until he’s deemed ready to jump in the ring with other people. He’s learned the best ways to protect his hands. Art teaches him the proper way to wrap his hands to avoid injury, and he’s invested in a quality pair of gloves. On his first night in the ring, he goes up against a dude that hands him his ass in under a minute. The sting from the punches to his torso makes him forget for a moment the pain inside his head.

It becomes a thing he can’t get enough of, something he’s always chasing, jumping in the ring with people that will wail on his body, never his face, but his body is fair game. It goes on like this for a few weeks, and then she walks in. At first, Buck doesn’t place her, but when she comes over to talk to him when he’s pounding into the heavy bag, he remembers. Lena. The person who got Eddie involved with the fight club after the tsunami and everything else.

“Buck? Right?” She says, and Buck wants to tell her to go the hell away, but he also hopes she’s still part of that underground fighting ring.

“Yes, Buck—Evan Buckley, actually. It’s Lena, right?”

“Yeah, how’ve you been? I heard what happened to Eddie; that must have been horrible.”

“Still is horrible, actually.” It’s more than he means to say.

“Let me guess that’s why you’re here pounding on things—either to clear your head or think them through.”

“Something like that.”

... the rest of this can be found on ao3

(those words may look familiar but they are the beginning of this fic so ...)

[strwbrymlkshake]

who up praying for downfalls 🤨

[struwberrii]

the hq matchup looks cute so i wanna see !

cool with either

she/her, into guys

i'm fine with anyone just not hinata, sorry buddy

empathetic/kind, sarcastic, reliable & loyal

empathetic/kind, perfectionist/overthinker, sarcastic & sensitive

video games & reading

giving & receving: words of affirmation/quality time

something chill, arcades are cool

honestly idk, cargo jeans, vintage racing jackets, etc.

infp-t

match up: tetsuro kuroo✮⋆˙

hope you like the matchup!!

⁺‧₊˚ ཐི⋆♱⋆ཋྀ ˚₊‧⁺

kuroo is definitely sarcastic and humorous, would probably be jokingly picking on you all the time. he is also very kind… he helped the karasuno first years learn new volleyball moves and has always been a good friend to his teammates from what i can see.

also his best friend is kenma so kuroo has definitely had his fair share in gaming and would def play games with you :)

teasing u is probably his main love language bus it’s all harmless and he never goes too far lol

he’s super nice to u tho he always showers you in compliments loves having lunch with u

probably doesn’t introduce you to the v-ball team other than kenma bc they all crazy and he’s trying to save u from the mental anguish of meeting those guys lol

i don’t think he’d ask you to come to practice bc he thinks you’d get bored but invites you to all his games and is always looking for you in the crowd

gets drive thru fast food with u and eat in his car (he calls it a date lol)

he would probably love studying w u if he’s confused on something ur good at or vice versa. he also pretends to be confused sometimes just to spend more time with you and listen to you explain it

he always makes sure he spends enough time with you and doesn’t get too caught up with volleyball or studying, u mean so much to him even if he isn’t always saying it ^.^

[blazinghotfoggynights]

Can I get my 911 with a double side of drama and a pitcher of messiness?

I love it when fictional characters are being scandalous or whumped. It's okay to have no morals or limits in fiction.

Spice up the entertainment. Make it hurt so good! Bring the mess!

There. I said it.

That was liberating. Anywho.

In one of my perfect 'verses, the remainder of season 7 would be Eddie getting fully involved with Shannon 2.0, who has no idea he is with Marisol, Eddie being caught in bed with his side piece by Marisol, who tells the whole 118 Eddie is a cheating scumbag, and then a reveal that the woman doesn't even look like Shannon.

The season would end with some type of major emotional trauma pushing Eddie and Buck both over the edge. I need Eddie Diaz to be in a mental breakdown. Not a minor one, I mean a life-altering, mind-shattering, reality-altering breakdown.

Seeing Eddie suffering triggers something in Buck and it sets him on a path filled with confusion, because he doesn't understand why he is hurting so much watching Eddie suffer.

Season 8 could follow Eddie through his mental health, and possible physical health, journey, Buck through the difficulties of balancing being there for the Diazes with the demands of work and his boyfriend, and how the whole 118 rallies to support one of their own while thoroughly calling him out for his actions.

I want to see fighting the truth, slowly rising from denial, jealousy, resentment, anguish. Give it to me! You could have Eddie trying to ignore something he has known most of his life, Buck unsure of where to focus his attention, Tommy demanding Buck be more present and if that means cutting down on his time with Eddie and Christopher, so be it.

Just those three things would be fuel for a whole season of five alarm fire! There could be opportunities for numerous confrontations and conversations between characters who have historically had little to no interaction. There could be fighting, breakups, makeups, bad choices, regrets, etc.

Then, at the end, there is a final showdown. That could be huge and inclusive of all the main characters and many of the recurring. There could be secrets revealed, ugly crying with lots of loud sobs and snot, ultimatums, begging, and so much more.

Realistically, if the show got a season 9, the arcs could be stretched into that season.

I am a Buddie endgame girl; however, I'd love to see Eddie and Buck explore their true selves independently of each other initially. I'd like to see the BuckTommy relationship evolution as more than a stepping stone. I just hope for, and prefer, Buddie endgame.

I am saying this as a staunch Buddie girl over the past six years: If Buddie happens, it should not happen now. Eddie Diaz is too messed up right now to be with anyone. His actions are going to cause trouble and whoever is in the blast radius when his BS blows up will get burned.

Say it with me:

Characters can have other relationships then eventually get together. BuckTommy and Buddie can coexist, PEACEFULLY, within the same fictional show. Wank makes fandom sad.

(I felt I should add that after completing this post, it somehow turned into the outline for a new fic. Can very long sighs cause harm to your lungs, because right now...)

[viva-la-bohemia]

The Aftermath

“Come on, get up.”

Lark groaned and clasped the outstretched hand of g-man, his gun-buddy, the man he had done Fortnite dances with at prom while nick and marco laughed from the side Grant Wilson to pull himself up. He looked around slowly at his friends co-workers and made a mental note to take care of the definite concussion that he had. Grant was unloading and reloading his handgun, a nervous tick that had somehow become normalized over the years. TJ, the man who got drunk with him for the first time on the roof of DADDIES and took all the blame when darryl found them, the man that convinced him to be the Ryan to his Sharpay in bop to the top when they auditioned for mamma mia in high school Terry’s glasses were broken in both lenses somehow, and he was flexing his arm in the way that he had done ever since his elbow had gotten popped out of the socket, oh so many years ago.

Lark’s brother was sat on the stairs, twisting his ring and glaring at his shoelaces, for some reason, as if he wanted to ground them into next month. Lark couldn’t quite say he disagreed with the sentiment. The next time he saw his nephew, ooh boy. No more late night Uncle-Lark-Can’t-Sleep-And-You-Spend-Too-Much-Time-Hyperfixating-On-Random-Shit-So-We’re-Going-To-Get-Ice-Cream trips, that was for sure.

He was snapped out of his stewing by Grant lightly hitting him in the arm.

“What the hell even happened, man?”

Lark dragged a hand across his face. “Nick’s kid broke the glass on the Whale’s tank,” Sparrow and Terry’s heads both snapped to him. Lark winced. “And then I ran in, slipped, fell into the tank, and shattered it.”

Grant’s jaw was practically on the floor. “Holy shit dude, how are you even moving right now?”

Lark smirked. “Dunno, but what I do know is that I’m gonna kill that teenager.”

The walk to the parking lot was silent, none of them wanting to actually admit that they had gotten their asses handed to them by their own kids. Lark pushed the door open into the parking lot, sopping wet, sore, and pissed.

He locked onto the kids and opened his mouth, about to relish in the rare gift that was yelling obscenities and Sparrow not scolding him for it. However, his joy and anger vanished quickly and his mouth closed with an audible click.

From behind him, Lark vaguely heard Grant’s gun drop onto the pavement in surprise and Sparrow gasp out a “holy shit”. Then Terry let out an anguished sob and Lark thought that that about summed it up.

their captor, the mean one, the head purple robe, the one who forgot to feed them, the one that tried to kill their dads, the one that tried to kill “spare-ow” because having two backups was unnecessary, the one that gave him his first scar that even henry didn’t know about, ron’s deadbeat dad that tried to kill his own son, the one who killed a man in front of his nephew, the one manipulating terry’s daughter

Willy.

Willy Stampler was holding the headless body of the very sixteen-year-old that Lark had been planning to yell at until he was blue in the face. Like watching a train crash, he followed the trail of blood to Taylor Swift’s head at the feet of Scary Marlowe, who was gripping a net so tight that her knuckles were white. Her jeans were splattered with blood. She looked horrified, and mere seconds away from sobbing.

Normally Swallows-Oak-Garcia normie, norm, his nephew, his star, his kiddo, his ice cream partner, Teeny the Teen was shrieking nonsensically on the ground, his knees appearing to have given out entirely, and he pulled at his hair as tears streamed down his face.

Lincoln Li-Wilson link, his godson, the kid who he’d watched take his first steps, the kid who’d somehow gotten taller than him in the years that he’d been banned from the Li-Wilson household, in all of his six-foot-three glory, was glaring at Willy with an intensity that could’ve killed a man.

Lark wondered why he hadn’t jumped at the man already, and then saw the cause. He was supporting the small DC-obsessed kid, the one that had spent two months monologuing himself into identity crisis after identity crisis and also apparently had a crush on his nephew? who was leaning his entire body weight on the taller kid, face blank except for a few stray tears working their way down.

Willy looked bored. Taylor’s body thumped on the ground as he checked his watch. “Ugh. I really thought that this would be faster, huh kiddo? Guess some parents just don’t care.”

Scary Marlowe teresa, terry the third, terry jr jr, the emo one, mini-him, edgelord supreme, the one he somehow knew the least even though they had sat at the same table at the wedding squeaked.

Her fingers flew free from their fisted prisons and Lark could see both the indent of the netting and the bloody crescents from her nails etched into her palms.

The net dropped heavily onto Taylor’s head (Lark choked back the bile rising in his throat) and his stupid pork-pie hat tipped off and onto Scary’s shoes.

Normal had stopped shrieking and was full-on sobbing into the ground. And then Row, his better side, his beautiful half, his twin, his six-minutes-older brother, the man that had saved his life time over time, the man that had taken him in without a second thought when he realized that Lark was sleeping on the streets, Sparrow Oak-Garcia stepped forward. His foot caught on a loose piece of gravel and it skittered across the blacktop, catching the attention of everyone.

Lark managed to drag his eyes away from the decapitated child in front of him and lock them onto Sparrow as he addressed the children with what he hoped would be their saving grace.

“Would this be a bad time to say I told you so?”

[distinguisheddetectivechild-blog]

Okay so i know everyone isnt chatgpt's biggest fan, but sometimes when i want to fangirl over one of my hyperfixations without the pressure of judgment and i want an immediate answer, i write it all down for my new buddy chat and ask for a response.

This was in answer to a long meandering opinion about Louis' relationship to humanity and its evolution throughout the two seasons of the show. And i wanted to share it !

"Louis’ journey with his humanity and his refusal to fully embrace vampirism in AMC’s Interview with the Vampire adaptation is one of the most compelling and layered aspects of his character. Your observations are sharp: Louis’ actions and choices reveal a nuanced and evolving relationship with killing, which ties directly to his identity, his trauma, and his conception of morality. Let’s unpack this.

Why does Louis hold onto his humanity so tightly?

1. Shame and guilt:

Louis is introduced as someone deeply invested in living according to moral and societal codes, even before his transformation. The shame he feels about his sexuality (in 1910s New Orleans), his business dealings (involving exploitation and violence), and the racial tensions of the era are compounded by the guilt of being turned into a creature that must kill to survive. Killing represents the ultimate loss of control and descent into "monstrosity," something Louis both fears and despises. His reluctance to kill isn’t just about the act itself but what it symbolizes—fully embracing the predator Lestat believes him to be.

2. Clinging to identity:

Early in the series, Louis' ties to his humanity are grounded in his family and his role as a businessman. As those ties fade, he struggles to replace them. His refusal to embrace killing is a way to maintain a sense of self—a tether to the man he was. In contrast, Lestat revels in vampirism, seeing it as liberation from human constraints. Louis sees it as a curse, and abstaining from killing is his rebellion against that fate.

3. Moral absolutism:

Louis' Catholic upbringing (even if largely unspoken in the show) and personal values drive him to see killing as inherently wrong. For Louis, morality isn’t fluid, even as a vampire. His attempts to go “vegan” by feeding on animals, his refusal to partake in massacres, and his eventual pride in finding a “no-kill” solution in the modern era all reflect a stubborn adherence to his belief that taking life—even to sustain his own—is abhorrent.

---

Why does he kill when he does?

1. Moments of despair or survival:

Louis’ violent acts often coincide with moments of intense emotional distress or necessity. For example:

The jaw-ripping scene you mentioned is a breaking point for Louis. His abstinence and repression build to a moment of rage-fueled catharsis, where he gives in to the violence inherent in vampirism.

The 1973 killings, as you noted, feel like a form of self-harm. Killing becomes an outlet for his internalized anguish—a way to punish himself or dull the pain of his existence.

2. Influence of others:

Louis’ dynamic with Lestat and Claudia often drives him to kill. Lestat pushes him to embrace his predatory nature, while Claudia reminds him of his responsibilities as a maker and partner. Louis’ kills are frequently motivated by external pressures rather than his own desires, underscoring his internal conflict.

3. Hallucinations and mental fragility:

The hallucination of Lestat in the park exemplifies Louis’ fractured psyche. Killing in this context feels less about pleasure and more about his inability to escape the pull of his vampiric instincts, even when he consciously tries to suppress them.

---

Why doesn’t Louis enjoy killing?

1. Empathy and alienation:

Unlike Lestat, who delights in power and domination, Louis retains a deep empathy for human beings. His struggle with killing stems from his inability to fully dissociate from humans and see them as mere prey. This empathy isolates him from other vampires, who often see humans as disposable, making his existence even lonelier.

2. Self-loathing:

Killing reinforces Louis’ self-hatred. Each life he takes is a reminder of what he has become and what he has lost. This self-loathing is central to his character, and it prevents him from ever finding joy or satisfaction in killing, even when it’s framed as necessary or justified.

3. Fear of losing himself:

Embracing killing would mean accepting the darker aspects of his nature, something Louis actively resists. To him, killing represents a point of no return—a full acceptance of the monster within. His reluctance to kill is less about the act itself and more about what it would mean for his soul, his identity, and his ability to see himself as anything other than a monster.

---

What does Louis’ humanity represent in the present day?

By the modern era, Louis’ humanity has evolved into something different. It no longer represents his ties to his mortal past but his ability to choose. He has found a way to sustain himself without killing, a compromise that allows him to reconcile his vampirism with his moral beliefs. This choice represents:

Control: Louis’ abstinence from killing is a reclaiming of agency over his existence. After centuries of being at the mercy of his instincts, his trauma, and others’ influence (Lestat, Claudia, Armand), Louis has found a way to live on his terms.

Hope for redemption: By refusing to kill, Louis is able to see himself as something other than a monster. It’s a way to believe he can still retain a shred of goodness, even after all he has done.

---

Final Thoughts

Louis’ refusal to embrace killing and his complex relationship with humanity are central to his character. They reflect his deep empathy, his moral rigidity, and his enduring struggle to find meaning in his existence. In the AMC adaptation, these themes are richly explored through his choices and the consequences of those choices. His humanity, or his clinging to it, is both his greatest strength and his deepest source of pain—a duality that makes him one of the most fascinating characters in the show."

[seekers-who-are-lovers]

Pretty in pink: Kazuki K & subversion (an homage)

Note: For Kazukiweek 2023: Acceptance

Pink is fresh. It is a happy color. It is positive. It is a sign of good health. That says a lot about Kazuki Kurusu. He has a bubbly personality, his optimism is brimming, especially after the seventh episode. It sure helps that Rei and Miri have become his ethos, have accepted to welcome the changes after five years of losing Yuzu. Usually, he wears his emotions on his sleeve. (But I think that’s only a front.) I love him. Right to the 11th episode, he has totally embraced the new life he’s been leading with Rei and Miri. The fact that he wanted it all along but was apprehensive because of his traumatic experiences made him cautious of the way he dealt with Rei and Miri. Rei’s determination on the second balcony scene was the catalyst because he knew how much K wanted it.

That fond looks K gives toward his family.

In the West, we are past that era where men cannot subvert pink’s gendered stereotype. You see men wear pink dress shirts, pink suits and other piece of clothing and they look spectacularly good. It is still a test of bravery for some though. Small boys still despise this color perceiving it as a girly stuff. New mothers try to veer their daughters away from this color by consciously not purchasing and introducing pink-coloured merchandise to their daughters’ color palette only to be disappointed because of peer pressure in the kindergartens. You know Elsa and Anna and the beautiful ladies of Disney and their association with pink? Too common, too banal.

However, “in contemporary Japanese culture, says (Barbara) Nemitz, pink is perceived as a masculine and mournful color that represents ‘young warriors who fall in battle while in the full bloom of life.’” Slain young samurai. All right. (Thanks to PA Works, it didn’t come to that though.)

It is also the color of sakura, cherry blossoms, which are the Japanese’s favourite flower. They do picnics just enjoying and gazing at the beauty of cherry blossoms (and later, peach blossoms). The Hanami. Some Japanese migrants adapted this ritual/event to their host countries and it is a sight to behold.

Different shades/nuances of pink worn by K and the moms

Pink has long been associated with homosexuality. The pink triangle. The lgbtq movement reclaimed the former badge of shame used by the Nazis incorporating it into the pride flag later. Though almost 70 per cent of the Japanese society supports it, it still is a huge problem to come out.

While there are no legal implications, coming out remains taboo for many in Japan for fear of being ostracized. A survey of young LGBTQ people published last year found high levels of mental anguish, including suicidal thoughts. More than 90% said they couldn’t talk about their sexuality with their guardians. Very few people in national politics or the corporate world are openly gay, although homosexual themes and LGBTQ celebrities are a staple of television and other forms of entertainment.

“Buddy Daddies” is not marketed as BL, but the show makers can write whatever about their characters. Sometimes implying them without direct confirmation. It depends how the viewers interpret it.

But K also symbolizes subversion. K’s characterization nonetheless goes against of what is perceived to be the norm in the Japanese society. He is both a nurturer and a protector, though Rei certainly will take over this “protector/saviour” task without any question. From the looks of it, he’d do anything for K and Miri.

Rei always in front to gauge the danger

An odd man out, K does the household chores while he can carry an adult man without any problem. We have seen him does it more than twice already. He’s loud and conspicuous. In Japan, you must never stand out. (<< - Shogo’s videos are highly recommended to watch btw!) He (and Rei) (go) goes against the rules. They blur the gender stereotyping in all aspects of life.

The crew presented the scenarios as if they were a matter of fact, normal, without making fun or light of it. No further commentary. One can say that it is subversive in a sense they want the audience to become aware of their thoughts on adoption, new family dynamics, the bureaucratic hurdles of enrolling your children and better access to daycare centres/schools to the ever-present mothers who have to give up their jobs and dedicate their lives to their kids, etc.

(It was unfortunate that they didn’t follow it up with Misaki Unasaka.)

Why do I get this feeling that one way or another “Buddy Daddies” had been the show makers’ thinly veiled social commentary on their society?

Anyway, I will miss his winking. Either way, I can still rewatch it.

Many happy returns, K!

[luminousstardust]

Constellations for each member of Bells Hells!

As I started making my level 10 Imogen dress, I wanted to have the constellations I painted on there to have meaning. While looking up some constellations and the mythos behind them, I realized that a lot of them actually related to a lot of the members of Bells Hells, and wanted to have them all represented on her dress!! Along with a couple key NPCs.

So, here’s the list:

Imogen - Andromeda

This was the first constellation I added to the dress!! According to my friend who is very into astronomy, Andromeda’s mother bragged about her beauty, angering the greek gods and causing Andromeda herself to nearly be sacrificed for her mother’s mistakes. I feel like this ties into Imogen’s life very neatly, as Liliana’s involvement with Ruidus and the Ruby Vangaurd have definitely had a more negative impact on her life so far. And, speaking of Liliana…

Liliana Temult - Cassiopeia

Liliana is the only true NPC to be featured on Imogen’s dress, because the comparison of Andromeda and Cassiopeia to Imogen and Liliana was too good to pass up on! I also have Liliana’s constellation on one side of the dress and Imogen’s on the other for optimum heartbreak…💔

Laudna - Ophiuchus

Speaking of placement… Ophiuchus as Laudna is right next to the Andromeda constellation on the dress 💜🖤. Ophiuchus is a greek healer often associated with bringing people back from the dead, which Laudna has done twice now. He’s also associated with snakes, which is a fun little nod to Laudna’s snake ring.

Fearne - Capricornus

Fearne being placed next to Imogen and Laudna is also intentional - I could not separate the witchy bitches!!! Capricornus represents, just like Fearne, a horned half-goat. I chose this one not only because it matches Fearne’s physical satyr presentation, but because her Fae nature is so key to her character and her relationship with the world around her.

Orym - Scutum

And right next to Fearne is her bestie, Orym!! While Scutum doesn’t have much mythos attached to it like the other constellations, it’s name means shield in Latin, which is just SO Orym. Not only is his own sheild very important to him, but Orym often utilizes his battle maneuvers in fights to protect other members of the party, so he is kind of like a sheild himself.

Dorian - Lyra

OF COURSE I had to include Dorian!! And put him right next to his sending stone buddy. Lyra was an obvious choice for Bells Hells’ bard, since the constellation represents Orpheus’ lyre. But I also chose this with the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice in mind, because Dorian’s separation and inability to “see” the rest of Bells Hells at the moment hurts me sooooo much. Hoping for a reunion eventually!!!!

Chetney - Caelum

Seeing the Caelum constellation, which translates to “the chisel,” is actually what inspired me to pair constellations to characters in the first place. A chisel constellation was MADE for Chetney!! Not only do I love love love the idea of a carver using their tools as weapons, but I absolutely ADORE that Chetney uses those same tools to make little personalized wooden crafts for his friends. He cares more than his grumpy old persona lets on!!!!

Ashton - Hercules

This one feels as though it may be a bit on the nose, but as the tank of the party I chose Hercules for Ashton. I feel like Hercules as a very strong mythical character represents all of Ashton’s strength - the physical, the internal, and the mental. Not only are they an incredible fighter, but having to deal with their chronic pain and emotional anguish requires a great deal of strength. Not to mention what team Issylra have been going through recently, and how he’s done his best to be, for lack of a better term, a rock for his friends.

F.C.G. - Libra

The Libra constellation represents a scale, a form of balance, which is why I chose it for F.C.G. With his healing abilities and love of emotional counseling, F.C.G. brings a unique balance to a party of heavy hitters who don’t necessarily love talking about their emotions. Also, their newfound religion promises to bring a new perspective to the party amidst their moral conundrum with the gods, which I’m excited to watch play out.

Bertrand Bell - Corvus

Last but certainly not least, the man who inspired the name of the Bells Hells himself! Corvus, the constellation representing crows and ravens, was an obvious choice for Bretrand. Not only was taken by the Raven Queen himself, but his girlfriend, Lieve'tel, was a cleric of the Raven Queen, so he feels intrinsically tied to the Matron. And as morbid as it was, Bertrand's death really set the Bells Hells off on the chain of events that has spiraled into the story we know today.

…And that’s it! I may add more constellations in the future (I have a few in mind for some of the guests, but I don’t want it to get too cluttered), but we’ll see! I’ll definitely post more when I finish Imogen’s whole level 10 outfit as well. Thanks for reading!

[anotherbluesunday]

✨Intertidal Chapter Release—Ch. 18✨

Lifting my phone up high in the air, I sucked in another breath. Great. Tapping the green answer icon I didn't realize it was a video call before it was too late.

"What?" I groaned, trying not to growl because it was too early for these calls and I wasn't at my mental fittest in that moment.

"Mornin'," Kent chuckled, seemingly humored by my post-dawn anguish. "Yer lookin' bright eyed and bushy tailed."

I glared at him.

"What's got ya' out of sorts, love?" he asked in a more concerned tone. "Ya' sick or hurt?"

"No..." I hesitated. Furrowed my brow and closed my eyes as I pinched the bridge of my nose to ward off the creeping headache I felt coming. "Just...I don't know. My head's fuzzy."

"Drunk fuzzy? Hungover? Or like existential dread goin' into numb kinda fuzzy?" When I groaned at the last one I could hear him breathe a sympathetic chuckle. "Yeah, I have those mornin's too."

"Maybe if I have a mimosa..."

Kent clicked his tongue. "That, love, is what we call an unhealthy dependence bordering on alcoholic behavior."

"You sound like my therapist."

"Well kudos ta' her for havin' the stones to say that."

Only Kent could make me roll my eyes with the urge to clock him while looking as good as he did while doing it.

"What're ya' doin' today?"

"Besides withering away beneath my blankets waiting for death to come and fight me for my life?" Kent smirked, humored by my answer rather than being put off the way Enid or my parents would have been. Both him and Ty shared the same flavor of dark humor which was also my flavor as chance would have it. "Nothing. Why?"

"We should do somethin'."

Wading the glowing crystalline waters of the pool hidden within the tropical paradise that surrounded us, I watched Kent swim toward me after diving in from the opposite end. Form shifting hypnotically like an abstract painting cast in bronze, topaz blue, aquamarine, and shimmering yellow, I held my breathe as he approached. Smiled more as if I had been bewitched when he emerged looking like a damn Grecian god with his hair clinging to his broad built shoulders and eyes sparkling. It didn't help that "Moonlight Serenade" was playing to match the vintage vibe of the entire area encapsulating Trader Sam's, Tangaroa Terrace, and the "grown up's" pool.

"Yer doin' that thing again," Kent teased as he floated over to where I was lurking, my arms slung up on the lip of the pool deck. Tilting his head just a bit with a playful flicker in his eyes as he grabbed hold of the handrail of the sidesteps next to me, Kent closed the space separating us. Hung there looking like a siren pulled straight out of fiction. "You'll cook me 'live with that kind of starin'."

I couldn't respond. My brain had gone dead. Or on strike because it was tired of this bullshit. Either way, the bitch had peaced out on me and my thought process was left on buffering.

Eyes constantly drawn back to his eyes, his lips, his chest, it was irrational Wynn's turn to take control of the helm. And what do you know, she steered us all into the shallows. Ran us ashore marooning me in the destructive cycle of reconsidering my stance on relationships versus fuck buddies. And it was her fault that my brain was coming up with more pro's to locking down Kent than it was coming up with con's. This would have been an easy decision weeks ago. Wouldn't have been something I would have even considered at the start of the year. Granted, I had always wanted to take a ride or two on him. But date him? That was a sure sign I had suffered traumatic brain injury. Or at least so I thought. But now?

"Winnie...?" He said quietly, as if he were about to share a secret. From the look in his eyes, he may very well be doing that. Gaze flicking from my lips to my eyes as he got in a little closer, Kent nearly whispered, "What if..." he began--the tension mounting between us pure indescribable torture. "What if I were to tell ya' that you've been on my mind for the last year?"

.

.

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Catch the fever here using the link below. 🔥🔥🔥

[notfknapplicable]

I saw your tag about Sense8 on that post about how some 9-1-1 fans reacted to Buck and Tommy flirting and I just wanted to let you know it really tickled me (and also you're 100% right)

Oh hunny. The first time we see the heroic trans lesbian hacktivist character, she is receiving the strap from her Black lesbian girlfriend in the gayest place on earth. All to cure a headache that turns out to be much, much more. But some folks are clutching their pearls over a throwaway daddy kink joke made between two boyfriends eating dinner. I mean, we all know why they're in their feelings about it (because they want their own ship to be canon and are searching for any way to bash the Tommy character because he's been paired with one half of said ship) and they are absolutely showing their asses in the worst way.

I've been participating in fandoms and fan spaces for literal decades and I am no stranger to a ship war. But I've really never seen anything like this. I can only compare it to what happened with Arrow when they managed to bully the writers into getting rid of the Green Arrow's canon love interest in favor of a raging Mary Sue, and it made the show demonstrably worse. I really hope that they are not able to pull that off with 9-1-1 because I think they've struck gold with BuckTommy. It makes the most sense, and also let's keep it 100 here - Eddie is straight. The creators and the actor has said as much many, many times. Personally I try not to pay much attention to what creators and actors have to say because I feel like it poisons the well of fanworks and fandom, but some folks don't wanna accept that this shit walks and talks like a duck. Eddie is a heterosexual. It's on screen in the text and it's come down from the people actually creating the show.

I have only been watching this show since two Saturdays ago and I gotta say that the tinhats and BoBs here are WILD. The other day I saw a post suggesting that someone bomb the studio because of BuckTommy. Not to mention the posts claiming pain, suffering, and mental anguish over their ship not being canon after years of "campaigning." These folks either have no idea or don't want to accept that the industry simply doesn't work that way, not to mention HEY it's just a tv show you should NOT be letting it have THIS much power over you. If you're really slipping into depression over not seeing two fictional white men slappin' each other's meat, then there's something more at play here. I don't really wanna get into all of that, but I do wish those people healing.

Also, as a newbie, all of this drama and mudslinging has only made me more resolute in my decision to support the canon ships and canon queers of this program. Watching Buddie shippers get legit unhinged (bombing the studio? harassing actors on their personal social media? reviewing bombing?) over fictional people does not make me wanna break bread with them. I like plenty of non-canon queer ships (most of mine aren't canon, actually) and at one time I might have been down to get on board with that ship, but uhhhhhhh not now.

[elamimax]

Concept:

You like magical school stories, but the one that was so formative for you growing up is now largely known for its transphobic creator and, more recently, ties to explicit and graphic antisemitism (hypothetically).

This sucks because you're probably queer and you probably care about Jewish people (and all ethic and religious minorities) feeling safe, but you still like reading things. Maybe even magical school things.

WELL BOY FUCKING HOWDY DO I HAVE A BOOK FOR YOU.

ANY OTHER NAME

GUARANTEED GAY

AT LEAST TWO TRANS CHARACTERS OR YOUR MONEY BACK - THAT'S RIGHT, TWO, NO, MAKE THAT THREE TRANS CHARACTERS!

ANY OTHER NAME IS HOME TO CHARACTERS WHO ARE THROWN INTO A SECRET MAGICAL WORLD BEHIND OUR OWN AND IMMEDIATELY QUESTION THE AUTHORITY THAT KEEPS THIS WORLD FROM HELPING THE MOST VULNERABLE

YOU LIKE THEMES?? IT'S GOT THEMES!! FAMILY, LETTING GO, SELF ACCEPTANCE, OVERCOMING ABUSE, TEENAGE ROMANCE AND DEVELOPING SEXUALITY, HOW COOL IT WOULD BE IF YOU COULD STOP A BULLET WITH YOUR MIND

THAT'S NOT ENOUGH FOR YOU?? OKAY, I'LL THROW IN NOT JUST ONE, NOT JUST TWO, NOT EVEN THREE BUT AN ENTIRE CAST OF CHARACTERS WHO CAN TURN INTO ALL KINDS OF CUTE ANIMALS, INCLUDING YOUR FAVORITES LIKE BARN OWLS, CATS, ARCTIC FOXES, FERRETS AND MANY MORE!!

STILL NOT ENOUGH!? ALRIGHT BUDDY YOU ASKED FOR IT!! IT'S GOT REFERENCES TO YOUR FAVORITE LITERARY GIANTS! IT'S GOT DUMB PUNS!! IT'S GOT BISEXUAL DISASTERS!! IT'S GOT JOKES THAT ARE SO OBSCURE YOU WOULD HAVE TO BE A GRADE A NERD TO APPRECIATE AND YOU KNOW THAT'S YOU¹

SO IF YOU WANT TO SUPPORT A TRANS CREATOR AND YOU WANT TO READ A NOVEL THAT WILL GIVE YOU THE BOTTOM AND/OR TOP SURGERY OF YOUR CHOICE², LOOK NO FURTHER THAN ANY OTHER NAME, ON AMAZON OR WHEREVER ELSE YOU GET YOUR DIGITAL MEDIA

https://www.amazon.com/Any-Other-Name-Ela-Bambust/dp/B0B14G1P1J

¹ we are not responsible for potential mental anguish incurred from recognizing a Homestuck reference

²I don't have a medical degree but I've got gumption and a can-do attitude

[abs0luteb4stard]

I still feel this way about my own father's death.

Second open heart surgery, triple bypass, 91% blockage in at least one artery. A necessary risk if it meant a full life after heart surgery.

All was well, until he threw a clot from that, it went to his brain causing a bad stroke.

Neurology left us in lurch. Dropped the ball for the first year or two.

Diagnosis: VASCULAR DEMENTIA

That goddamn clot killed the brain tissue. It deteriorated his brain over 5 years. That's the average lifespan of someone with Vascular Dementia. He made it just barely into a sixth year. And only because we tirefully (yes we were very broken down tired at that point) without help of any kind kept him going until his appetite and ability to swallow finally ended his life.

There were some fun days, some jokes, some hugging and kissing and buddy days. But there was a lot of fucking suffering. Mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually. The confusion, the bizarre things he'd do and say, the physical attacks. The moments of clarity which were like teasing us that he's back to himself only top disappear again for months.

And Death isn't easy. I was there for it. It looked hard for him. It was excruciating horror for me, and for my mom she handled it differently, maybe or her profession girded her better. Maybe it was my already fucked up psychological problems that made it so much more drastically worse for me, that and my deep closeness with my dad.

I wish I could find what Mandy Patinkin did in his scenes with the six fingered man, a short moment of catharsis. I'm still anguished about my dad's death. Granted its only been a year and 8 months for me, but it's there everyday, every second.

[larrikin-is-a-himbo]

Thoughts on rewatch of the Batman 2022

"Ave Maria" faintly playing in the background in the beginning. Hadn't noticed that before.

Gotta look fabulous before going to beat the life out of criminals.

This movie does a perfect job of separating Batman and Bruce Wayne. How different those two people are, despite being the same person.

Another aspect I love is that this is the very beginning stages of Batman's journey. He's not the "perfect, no mistakes, flawless detective work" Batman that most movies portray. He's learning, making mistakes, still needs to improve his skills and craft. And since it's the first years and he hasn't been established as an asset to the Gotham PD yet, the officers, rightfully so, *do not* like him which makes a lot of sense than letting him run amok. (Not that that gets any better with time but you feel the difference in how they take Batman's presence.)

"The city's eating itself. Maybe it's beyond saving. But I have to try." SEE that is how you characterise Bruce, hope and endurance in the face of despair.

The narrative parallel between the death of the mayor and his son finding the body, and young Bruce watching his parents being murdered. Oh, it's so good, I'm gonna eat my hand.

Bruce saying he doesn't care what happens to his family's business and all the work they've done, equating his worth to what he does as a vigilante just goes to show how much the trauma and mental anguish has taken over his life, and now the severe depression, suicidal tendencies, even subconsciously just looking for an excuse to not live hits too close to home.

Robert Pattinson's back 😳 (I am a whore, leave me alone)

Batman fucking up the twins will never not be funny.

You've gotta be honest, our edgelord's entrance into Penguin's lair is nothing short of iconic.

I love this version of Penguin so much, he's the right amount of menacing and goofy.

THE FIRST MEETING OF BATCAT. Love-at-first-sight if I've ever seen it.

I fucking LOVE seeing Catwoman in action.

If I don't meet my S/O with us having a 1v1 and them manhandling me, what even is the point of it all.

Selina and Bruce's socio-economic background play such a big role in their reasons and aspirations to be heroes (or vigilantes). Glad this movie doesn't gloss over that.

Batsy is such a bastard in his early days. Selina should deck him.

He has so much to learn and grow, not just as Batman, but as a person. Yes, this is about him sending Selina as a spy.

Bruce Wayne looking like he's having the worst time of his life when he's in public. I love this socially repulsive man with all my heart.

Bruce seeing his child self in the mayor's son, but now with new responsibility of solving this mystery, just wow. A lot of movies, at least the live-action ones, tend to not prioritise portraying Bruce's childhood or the trauma he experienced with the gruesome murder of his parents, because at his core that's what led him down this path, it's just as, if not more, important, to him being the saviour, the knight of Gotham.

Him getting jealous thinking that's Selina with Falcone. Somebody's in love.

Riddler and his stupid love letters. Get a life.

Batman, you idiot, why would you stand with your face right infront for the bomb.

The police station scene is so funny. Poor Jim is losing it. "Great, now I got you on assaulting an officer." "You got me on assaulting three." Bad bitch energy.

"We gotta get you out of here buddy." "🥺" Gay behaviour.

OOOOOH. THE ESCAPE SCENE. Can't wait to see Batsy hit the ground and eat shit. THERE IT IS.

The fucking chase scene. Hell yeah. Emo Batman has some of the best entrances and chases in this movie. It's actually fun to watch and isn't cringe. What a refreshing change.

"Good cop, batshit cop." Jim shoving the pictures of the mutilated face into Penguin's face. I can't breathe.

Jim and Bats interrogating Penguin. Penguin roasting the fuck out of them. "No habla espanol, fellas?" "Shut up!" FUCKING HILARIOUS. Them leaving his tied up, and him waddling while cursing. THAT'S how you do comedy without breaking the tone of the movie, especially for dark superhero movies.

I know Alfred doesn't die but godsdammit I hate seeing him hurt.

Bruce lashing out because he feels betrayed but also reeling from getting flashbacks to his father's death while seeing Alfred in that bed, my boy was in the worst emotional state. I forgive him for being a little bitch to his dad (Alfred).

The heart to heart between Bruce and Alfred is such a tender and love-full moment. I needed that :,)

Selina should have just killed Kenzie before Bats came around. I support women's rights, but more importantly I support women's right to murder.

Carmine Falcone is such a sleazebag character. He gives me the creeps.

I love Jim Gordon. No particular scene inspired that statement, I just love him.

THE SECOND BEST HALLWAY FIGHT SCENE IN THE WORLD. I LOVE IT SO MUCH. I want it injected in my veins.

When Falcone is arrested and Penguin speaks against Carmine, I love that scene because it's a subtle indication to the end of the movie, where we see Penguin will now take over the criminal underworld of Gotham. The mighty Falcon has been taken down, the city is drowned. What better opportunity for a flightless bird to takeover?

Riddler with his dumb ass jokes and reddit lives. What a clown. He's dangerous but I can't take him seriously.

Batman appears and he just [starts screaming] peak teenage boy behaviour. Cringe lord. Be better.

Starting the movie with "I am darkness", contemplating if Gotham can even be saved, and ending it with Batman lighting the way, leading Gotham out of the destruction. GODS. Him coming to the realisation that Gotham, and by extension himself, need hope and change, not clinging to the past, not vengeance. That is so poetic.

In regards to BatCat, the last meeting really signifies their love story. He loves her, he truly does, and maybe in this version of the story they end up together despite all the, but Gotham will always be his priority. She wants him to live, not just exist, but live, but Bruce gave up on that idea long ago.

"The Bat and the Cat, its got a nice ring to it. [Pause] Who am I kidding? You're already spoken for." OK, Mr. Matt Reeves, why don't you just shoot me between the eyes?

[muttkep]

Greetings Rise fandom! I got another concept for you all!

This could be for its own au, but this is something I'm planning to add into my Dragon Turtles au. I got to thinking about how the turtles could advance with their mystic abilities after the events of the movie, and that's when I got the idea that the bros could gain familiars. Basically, think of these creatures as something like the Palismans from The Owl House, except instead of turning into staffs, they become more like totems, jewelry, or other small, inanimate objects that could be carried around in case of emergencies.

As for how they got them, I like to picture a sort of traveling market that popped up outside of Witch Town. That way all the bros can explore it out of curiosity without getting into trouble with the residents. And as for each one, they all chose the turtles based on a mystic connection. And each one is unique, so let's get into who got who:

Raph: Ursa Minor cub. Bears are classified as strong earth-based guardian spirits, but I wanted Raph's little buddy to be about more than just strength. I also wanted a mystic creature he could show a softer side with. One without worry of getting hurt by the amount of mental anguish suffered at the hands of the Krang turned possibly physical. Hence the decision to give Raph what is essentially a perfect sized teddy bear that also doubles as his mystic partner.

Donnie: Albino Basilisk. Now, I had quite a bit of debate on what to give Donnie as a familiar. I considered something like a rabbit or a cat, but that felt a bit too obvious or overdone. This version of Donnie deserved something unique, so I started looking for alternative animals. The basilisk stuck out to me in a few ways. One, snakes are usually connected to water. Two, making the creature albino means that it would have difficulties surviving, and would have to think outside the box to live in certain conditions. Kind of like Donnie and his soft shell. Making this serpent in particular a fast thinking/highly intelligent creature. Also, much like how Donnie could be misunderstood as a cold and closed off individual, so too are snakes. Snakes can be highly misunderstood as cold, efficient, killing creatures of evil, but some out there actually have calm and friendly temperaments. And while it would take Donnie a while to get over the creepy feeling of them crawling over him, the feel of the smooth skin would probably be great for someone who is theorized to have certain sensitivities to certain textures. Not to mention that the gentle massaging feels of them gently constricting him in a not-too-tight fashion could help keep him grounded in a mental spiral. (And yes, I based the design off of 2012's serpent Karai. it was an intentional reference)

Mikey: Phoenix. Mikey's was an obvious one for me to do. Being the most Mystically connected out of the brothers means he had the highest chances of bonding with a very powerful creature. Enter the phoenix, a firebird with the ability to be reborn from the ashes of an old life. Colorful, graceful, and powerful, the phoenix can also have a soft or even mischievous side to it. A fun-loving creature with great abilities to help a fledging mystic warrior like Mikey gain his proper footing in using them. Especially without hurting himself, like with the portal at the end of the movie. As well as helping him gain confidence to stand on his own when his brothers can't help him.

Leo: Kirin. Leo was also a hard one to figure out. I considered animals like stags, deer, elk and the like. But then, I remembered that Leo had a liking for Unicorns, however I didn't just want to give him a generic unicorn. That's when inspiration struck. I was revisiting the OVA series of Petshop of Horrors, and in the 4th episode, it talked about the Kirin. The Kirin is stated to be a holy beast, who serves no one but it's sovereign. Therefore, the person to gain possession of the Kirin, was destined to be a great ruler. That's when it all clicked into place. The Kirin is not only the Eastern equivalent to the unicorn, but a lot of what it represents could tie into Leo's struggles of being a better leader after the movie. Sovereign is another word for king or leader, and in ancient Chinese/general Asian lore, the arrival of a Kirin was meant to signify the coming or going of a great leading figure. A creature that was benevolent to its allies and had ruthless furry for its enemies. And not just anyone could choose a Kirin as a familiar or guardian spirit, it had to choose you. And after everything Leo went through, fears of failure, the pressures of leadership, the guilt of causing/nearly causing the apocalypse, he would need some kind of sign or reassurance that he was back on the right track. That he was improving and could be a good leader like Casey Jr. said. And what better way than to be chosen by a great mythic beast, with its own set of scars, to choose him to be its leader. If that doesn't prove Leo's leadership capabilities, I don't know what would.

Anywho, thanks for reading my crazed ramblings, and I hope you enjoy the content. Feel free to comment and let me know your thoughts on the concept. Hope to see you soon!

Characters mentioned are not mine, all referenced media belongs to their rightful owners. The artwork is mine only.